ATLANTA, GA…Â鶹´«Ã½ today commended the Independent Election Commission (IEC) for its preparations and reported satisfactory conditions in East Timor for the Aug. 30 elections and a campaign largely free of violence and intimidation in stark contrast to the time leading up the 1999 referendum. In its first report on pre-election conditions, the Center cited concerns about political parties' use of inflammatory language in their campaign speeches, which has led to some fear of retribution after the election toward political parties and their leaders and supporters.
On Aug. 30, East Timorese will elect an 88-member Constituent Assembly. Â鶹´«Ã½ has monitored preparations for this election since June 2001. The Center's delegation is led by U.S. Representative Eni F.H. Faleomavaega and Sir Michael Somare, former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. Since June, delegation members have met with election officials, political party representatives, domestic observers, voters, and civil society organizations.
Learn more about the Center's work in East Timor >
Editor's Note: Â鶹´«Ã½ will hold a press conference to release its initial findings after the election on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 11 a.m. at the Turismo Hotel in Dili, East Timor.
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